Apparatus and method for channel switching

ABSTRACT

A wireless device, for operation within a wireless network, the wireless device comprising: a RF transmitter, a RF receiver, and processing circuitry, where the RF transmitter sends a radar-detected message or a channel-switch announcement message to other wireless devices in the wireless networks. The other wireless devices receive the radar-detected message and abandon radar-detected channels designated in the radar-detected message. The other wireless devices also receive the channel-switch announcement message and switch to radar-free channels designated in the channel-switching message.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No.62/454,403, filed Feb. 3, 2017, which is incorporated by reference as iffully set forth. This application is also related to U.S. provisionalpatent application No. 62/448,718, filed Jan. 20, 2017, and U.S. patentpublication no. 2013/0194944, filed Jul. 25, 2015, which are herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This disclosure relates to DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) andradar-avoidance management in wireless networks. In particular, but notexclusively, the disclosure relates to DFS and radar-avoidancemanagement in multi-node networks.

BACKGROUND

Due to regulations, a node operating in radar frequencies is required todetect radar with at least a given probability, and in case ofdetection, it is required to change its operating frequency not toreturn to its previous frequency for a duration designated by theregulation. This is called dynamic frequency selection (DFS); thechannels in which radar detection capability is required are called DFSchannels, and the other available channels are called non-DFS channels.In general, the local authorities like ETSI in Europe and FCC in the USAgovern the regulations for devices operating in certain frequency bandslike 5 GHz. For example, according to ETSI, channels falling within5150-5250 MHz are called non-DFS channels, whereas other channelsfalling within 5250-5350 MHz and 5490-5725 MHz are called DFS channels.Due to regulations, a node that detects radars has to cease transmissionin the DFS channel during a predetermined time period, and then it maychoose to switch to a radar-free channel. The node is allowed to maketransmissions only in a fraction of the allowed predetermined timeperiod. Soyak et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0194944 disclosesa method of detecting radar and avoiding the radar interference. Theentire contents of Soyak et al. are incorporated herein by reference.

Master devices and slave devices with radar detection capability arenodes that are subject to DFS radar-detection regulations. Examples ofthe master devices are Access Points (APs) or Universal Repeaters (URs).Examples of the slave devices without radar-detection capability arewireless stations, i.e., wireless clients. Generally, slave nodes maynot possess radar detection capability and they may be subject to the“slave without radar detection” rules of the DFS regulations. In somerare cases, however, slave nodes are capable of the radar detectioncapability.

Persons having ordinary skill in the art will understand that wirelessdevices like APs, URs, wireless stations, and wireless clients maycomprise processing circuitry, a memory, communication circuitryincluding radio-frequency (RF) transmitters/receivers. For example,processing circuitry may include any suitable type of processingcircuitry, such as one or more of a general-purpose processor (forexample, an ARM-based processor), a chipset of a communicationsinterface, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and aField-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Memory may include any suitabletype of volatile and non-volatile memory, such as random-access memory(RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, cloud storage, networkaccessible storage (NAS), or others. Communications circuitry mayinclude any suitable type of communications circuitry to send or receivesignals of certain protocols, such as Wi-Fi™, Ethernet, Long-TermEvolution interface, Bluetooth™ Interface, Infrared (IR), Power LineCommunication (PLC), Multiplexing over Coaxial (MoCA) or others. Personshaving ordinary skill in the art will further understand that relevantRF transmitters/receivers are used to carry out such signals.

Being able to cease all transmissions in the operating frequency upondetection of radar is important as interfering with the radar mayobfuscate critical radar operations. That is why Wi-Fi™ devices aretested for satisfying stringent DFS regulations.

Although DFS-aware operation is rather straightforward for a wirelessnetwork with a single-node, the DFS-aware operation in multi-nodewireless networks (wireless networks with more than one radar-detectioncapable devices) is very complex. An example of single-node wirelessnetworks is a Wi-Fi™ Basic Service Set (BSS), which comprises an AP withradar detection capability such as a master node, and one or morewireless stations without radar-detection capability such as slavedevices. Examples of multi-node wireless networks is a wireless meshnetwork, a wireless network comprising an AP and at least one URs (orRepeaters), and a wireless network that comprises APs connected witheach other through wired communications, such as Ethernet, MoCA(Multiplexing over Co-Axial), or PLC (Power Line Communication). Amulti-node wireless network may make up an Extended Service Set (ESS)according to IEEE 802.11 standards.

A “node” in the multi-node wireless network may be a device thatprovides service to client devices (stations). For example, within thiscontext, AP, UR, and wireless gateway (GW) are the nodes, whereas mobileclients may be stations. Or, the node may be a device that comprises thewireless network, and it may be utilized as a wireless access point.

The DFS-aware operation in multi-node wireless networks is complex,because each node in the network is spatially distributed, and hence ithas a different view of the wireless medium. Because each node in thenetwork is spatially distributed, one node detects radars while othernodes may not detect the same radars. In such cases, it is of paramountimportance for the entire network to cease transmission in theradar-detected frequency.

DFS management in multi-node networks is disclosed herein. For example,the DFS management includes methods for operating a multi-node wirelessnetwork, as if it is a single-node network from the perspective of DFSregulations.

Further aspects of the disclosure will be apparent from the descriptionand claims.

SUMMARY

Wireless communication devices operating within wireless mesh network orrepeater network are adapted to detect radar; send or receiveradar-detected and/or channel switch announcement (CSA) messages; todynamically switch between master mode and slave mode; and to operate indifferent channels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure is described in reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates how radar-detection and DFS management is carried outin a wireless mesh network. Node-B and Node-C receive radar-detected andCSA messages from Node-A and they switch to an available channel.

FIG. 2 illustrates how radar-detection and DFS management is carried outin a wireless mesh network. Node-B and Node-C do not receiveradar-detected and CSA messages from Node-A and they continue staying intheir current channel(s).

FIG. 3 illustrates how radar-detection and DFS management is carried outin a wireless mesh network. Node-A switches to slave mode and connectsto Node-C.

FIG. 4 illustrates how radar-detection and DFS management is carried outin a wireless mesh network. Node-C sends radar-detected and CSA messagesto Node-A and Node-B upon receiving radar-detected message from Node-A.

FIG. 5 illustrates how radar-detection and DFS management is carried outin a wireless mesh network. Node-A reverts to master mode and thewireless mesh network is reestablished.

FIG. 6 illustrates how radar-detection and DFS management is carried outin a wireless repeater network. Node-A receives radar detected and CSAmessages from Node-B and then switches to an available channel.

FIG. 7 illustrates how radar-detection and DFS management is carried outin a wireless repeater network. Node-A does not receive radar detectedand CSA messages from Node-B and continues to stay in its currentchannel.

FIG. 8 illustrates how radar-detection and DFS management is carried outin a wireless repeater network. Node-A sends radar-triggered and CSAmessages to Node-B upon receiving radar-detected message from Node-B.

FIG. 9 illustrates how radar-detection and DFS management is carried outin a wireless repeater network. Node-B reverts to master mode and thewireless repeater network is re-established.

FIG. 10 illustrates how the network is recovered and re-established incase of asymmetric radar detection during Channel Availability Check(CAC). No wireless connections are established among Node-A, Node-B, andNode-C.

FIG. 11 illustrates how the network is recovered and re-established incase of asymmetric radar detection during CAC. Only the connectionbetween Node-A and Node-B is established.

FIG. 12 illustrates how the network is recovered and re-established incase of asymmetric radar detection during CAC. Having lost connectionwith Node-B, Node-C switches to slave mode.

FIG. 13 illustrates how the network is recovered and re-established incase of asymmetric radar detection during CAC. Node-B sendsradar-triggered and CSA messages to Node-A and Node-C upon receivingradar-detected message from Node-C.

FIG. 14 illustrates how the network is recovered and re-established incase of asymmetric radar detection during CAC. The network'sconnectivity is re-established.

FIG. 15 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary process for a wirelessdevice according to one or more disclosures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one disclosure, a node employs two operational modes:master and slave. The Node can switch between these two operationalmodes during run-time, but it can be in one of these modes at a time.That is to say, both modes cannot be active at the same time. When anode is operating as “master,” it has radar-detection capability, and itis subject to DFS regulations for master devices. When a node isoperating as “slave,” it is subject to DFS regulations for slavedevices. According to the regulations, a slave device has to follow amaster device for DFS-related operations. For example, if a master nodedetects radar, it immediately (within the duration allowed by the DFSregulations) informs slave devices (that are associated with the masternode) about the channel change that is to happen, ceases itstransmissions in the radar-detected frequency, and switches to anavailable, non-radar, channel. Slave devices must obey the messagescoming from the master node.

In FIG. 1, the elements 100 and 101 denote wireless mesh networksoperating in a first channel and a second channel, respectively. Theelements 102 and 116 denote Node-A. The elements 110 and 122 denoteNode-B. The elements 112 and 124 denote Node-C. The elements 106 and 108denote signals transmitted over communication paths 107/118, 103/120,and 113/126, such as frequency bands, channels, or other equivalents.

When Note-A 102 detects radar, it sends channel switch announcement(CSA) messages to other nodes, Node-B 110 and Node-C 112, which are notdetecting the radar. After receiving the messages from Note-A 102,Node-B 110 and Node-C 112 switch to an available channel. 114. Theelement 101 shows a wireless mesh network operating in the availablechannel.

A node selects its modes of operation, master or slave, dynamically. Ifthe node detects radar in a DFS channel, it informs associated stationsabout a channel to be switched, and it informs its peer nodes about theradar and the channel to be switched by sending a radar-detected messageand a CSA message. However, peer nodes may fail to notice thosemessages, as depicted in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, the elements 200 and 201 denote wireless mesh networks. Theelements 202/218, 210/220, 212/222 denote Node-A, Node-B, Node-C,respectively. The elements 206 and 208 denote signals transmitted overcommunication paths 203, 207, 214, 224, such as frequency bands,channels, or other equivalents.

In FIG. 2, Node-B 210 and Node-C 212 fail to receive Node-A's CSAmessages, thus they continue communicating in their current channel(s).As shown in the element 201 of FIG. 2, the wireless mesh network losesit connectivity because Node-A 218 is operating in one channel, whileNode-B 220 and Node-C 222 are operating in a different channel.

In such cases, in order to re-establish connection with its peer nodes,a node like Node-A in FIG. 2 switches to slave mode and connects to itspeer nodes to inform them about the radar.

In FIG. 3, the elements 300 and 301 denote wireless mesh networks. Theelements 302/312, 304/316, 306/318 denote Node-A, Node-B, Node-C,respectively. The element 314 denotes signal transmitted over acommunication path 315, such as frequency bands, channels, or otherequivalents. The elements 308/320 are also communication paths.

In FIG. 3, Node-A 302 in the network 300 switches to slave mode andscans other channels to find the root node or a node connected to theroot node. Node-C 306 is connected to the root node, Node-B 304. Afterfinding Node-C 306, Node-A 302 connects to Node-C 306 as a slave. 310.Then, Node-A 312 sends radar-detected message in an effort to forceNode-C 318 to abandon the radar-detected channel 314. Thus, therationale behind switching to slave mode is to be able to inform thepeer nodes about the detected radar, and force them to abandon theradar-detected channel for at least the duration of non-occupancyperiod, for example, as defined in the ETSI and FCC DFS regulations.

FIG. 4 illustrates how Node-C in FIG. 3 reacts after receivingradar-detected message from Node-A. In FIG. 4, the elements 400 and 401denote wireless mesh networks. The elements 402/414, 406/418, 408/420denote Node-A, Node-B, Node-C, respectively. The elements 404, 410denote signals transmitted over communication paths 405, 422, 424, suchas frequency bands, channels, or other equivalents.

In FIG. 4, Node-C 402 triggers transmission of radar-detected and CSAmessages to Node-A 402 and Node-B 406. Then, Node-B 406 and Node-Cswitch to an available channel. 412. Then, Node-A 402, Node-B 406, andNode-C 401 are operating in the same channel. 401. Afterward, asillustrated in FIG. 5, the wireless mesh network 500 is re-establishedbecause all the nodes can communicate with each other (504, 506, and512). Node-A 502 reverts to master mode.

In FIG. 5, the element 500 and 401 denote a wireless mesh network. Theelements 502, 508, 510 denote Node-A, Node-B, Node-C, respectively. Theelements 504, 506, 512 denote communication paths, such as frequencybands, channels, or other equivalents.

The following example is described here. A wireless mesh networkcomprises 3 APs (Node-A, Node-B, and Node-C). These three APs operate ina non-DFS channel, and they are scheduled to switch to a DFS channel.Upon switching to the DFS channel, these three APs start ChannelAvailability Check (CAC). According to the DFS regulations, CAC isrequired to be carried out to mark a DFS channel as available. If noradars are detected during the CAC, the master device can starttransmitting in the channel. No transmissions are allowed during CAC.

The stringent regulations on how to pursue the CAC make the multi-nodeCAC process complex. First, if some of the APs detect radar during theCAC, but the others do not detect the radar, there is no way, during theCAC procedure for the APs that have detected radar, to inform the otherAPs about the presence of the radar because no transmissions are allowedduring the CAC procedure. In the example scenario, Node-A detects radarduring the CAC and switches to an available channel, whereas Node-B andNode-C do not detect the radar and continue to stay in their currentchannel. In such a case, the network loses its connectivity, since thenodes are now operating in different channels. Second, in anotherexample scenario, Node-A has switched to a predetermined non-DFS channelupon reception of radar. Node-B and Node-C continue operating in the DFSchannels since they have not detected the radar in their operatingchannels. There are two major problems here: first, the network losesits connectivity, and second, some of the nodes continue operating in achannel that is currently used by radar, hence they can probablyinterfere with the radar.

This disclosure provides methods to overcome these two major problems bydynamically managing the operational mode of the nodes, and by employingcontrol messaging among the nodes to inform one another about thepresence of radar and channel switch announcements.

Multiple nodes can set-up a wireless network through various methods.One method is described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application62/448,718, which is hereby incorporated by reference. In a multi-nodenetwork, one of the nodes is regarded as the root-node. In general, theroot-node can be any one of the nodes in the multi-node network. At agiven time, there is one and only one root-node. The root-node, however,can be changed as needed. A node is assigned to a root-node in thenetwork as required. The root-node always operates in master mode,whereas the other nodes may change their operational modes duringrun-time as needed. For example, within the context of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application 62/448,718, the root-node is the gateway mesh accesspoint (GW MAP).

In a multi-node wireless network, nodes may operate in master mode.Nodes continuously monitor their operating frequencies for possibleradars. According to DFS regulations, this is called in-servicemonitoring. If a node detects radar in its operating channel, it (i)sends a “radar-detected message” to its peer-nodes, (ii) sends ChannelSwitch Announcement (CSA) or Extended CSA (ECSA) message to itspeer-nodes and its stations, (iii) buffers all ongoing traffic andceases all transmissions in the radar-detected channel, (iv) marks thechannel as unavailable for a duration of non-occupancy period (asdefined in the DFS regulations), (v) changes its operational mode toslave, and (vi) switches to the available channel it has announced inits CSA or ECSA (Extended CSA) message. This channel can be a non-DFSchannel or a DFS channel which had been found to be radar-free viaChannel Availability Check (CAC) or off-channel CAC. If the node canreestablish connection with the root-node in the switched channel, thenthe node reverts to master mode, and continues its normal operation.However, if the node cannot reestablish connection with the root-node,then the node starts scanning other channels to find the root-node, or anode (in master mode) that is connected to the root-node through singlehop or multiple hops.

In the channel scan, the node (in slave mode) does not pursue activescan (by sending probe request messages) in a DFS channel, unless it hasreceived an enabling signal from a master device. This master node doesnot need to be the root-node; it can be any master node in the vicinity.For example, beacons sent by an AP (in master mode) can be regarded asenabling signals for the slave device. The node (in slave mode) pursuespassive scanning in DFS channels, if it does not receive enablingsignals from master devices. In passive scanning, a node does not makeany transmissions; it just listens to the messages sent by otherdevices.

If the node finds the root-node, or a node (in master mode) that isconnected to the root-node, it establishes connection with the foundnode in slave mode. The node informs the root-node about the detectedradar, and forces it to switch to an available channel, so that theradar-detected channel is abandoned.

The current operating channel can be marked as unavailable by the nodein slave mode. This may occur in various scenarios. For example, a nodemay have detected radar and switched to a non-DFS channel. But, itspeer-nodes including the root-node may have not heard the radar-detectedmessage or the CSA (or ECSA) message. In such cases, the node marks thechannel as unavailable for the duration defined in the standard. Forexample, ETSI standards like EN 301 893 V2.1.1 (2017-05) specify about30 min. non-occupancy period. If the node reestablishes connection withits root-node in a channel that is marked as unavailable by itself, itdoes not revert to master node, since it is against regulations.Instead, the node (in slave mode) sends “radar-detected message” to itsroot-node, so that the root node can mark this channel as unavailable aswell. Once the root-node receives the radar-detected message, it sendsradar-detected message to its peer nodes, and CSA (or ECSA) to its peernodes and station nodes, causing the nodes connected to it to switch toan available channel.

After the nodes received the CSA (or ECSA) message and switched to thesame channel with the root-node, it establishes connections with theroot-node in slave mode, and reverts to master node, right after theconnection.

The method described above forces the entire network to operate in atotally radar-free channel. That is, even if one of the nodes in thenetwork detects radar, all nodes are made to mark that channel asunavailable.

An example of a network comprises an AP and a UR, and multiple clientsthat are connected to either the AP or the UR. The user has set theoperating channel of the AP to a DFS channel manually. The UR isconnected to the AP via AP's operating channel. If the UR detects radar,but the AP does not detect radar, then the UR does not inform the APabout its radar-detection. Hence, the AP-UR network continues to operatein the presence of radar, although they are likely to obfuscate radarsignal. However, if the AP detects radar it can make the UR change itschannel, by CSA messages. Moreover, once the AP changes its channel dueto radar-detection, the UR can follow its AP.

However, if the proposed method is employed, then the UR would be ableto force the root-node to abandon the radar-detected channel, and makethe root node switch to an available, non-radar channel.

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate how radar-detection and DFS management is carriedout in a wireless repeater network.

In FIG. 6, the elements 600 and 601 denote wireless repeater networks.The elements 602/608, 606/610 denote Node-A and Node-B, respectively.The element 608 denotes a signal transmitted over a communication path616, such as frequency bands, channels, or other equivalents. Theelement 612 is also a communication path. In FIG. 7, the elements 700and 701 denote wireless repeater networks. The elements 702/108, 706/710denote Node-A and Node-B, respectively. The element 708 denotes a signaltransmitted over a communication path 714. In FIG. 8, the elements 800and 801 denote wireless repeater networks. The elements 802/806, 804/808denote Node-A and Node-B, respectively. The elements 806 and 810 denotesignals transmitted over communication paths 814, 816, respectively. InFIG. 9, the element 900 denotes a wireless repeater network. Theelements 902, 904 denote Node-A and Node-B, respectively. The element906 denotes a communication path.

In FIG. 6, when Node-B 606, which is a UR, detects radar 604, it sendsradar-detected and CSA messages to Node-A 606, which does not detectradar. 608. Then, Node-A switches to an available channel. 614. Then,Node-A 608 and Node-B 610 are operating in the same channel in thewireless repeater network 601.

FIG. 7 illustrates a wireless repeater network comprising Node-B 706that detects radar 704 and Node-A 702 that does not detect radar. WhenNode-A 702 does not receive radar-detected and CSA messages 708 sent byNode-B 706, it continues to stay in its current channel, which isdifferent from the channel that Node-B 706 is operating in. Accordingly,as shown in the element 701, Node-A 708 and Node-B 710 do notcommunicate each other. That is, the wireless repeater network 701 losesits connectivity.

In FIG. 8, Node-B 804 switches to slave mode and scans for the root-node(Node-A) 802. When it finds the root node 802, it connects to the rootnode 802 in slave mode. Then, Node-B 804 sends Node-A 802 radar-detectedmessage in an effort to force Node-A 802 to abandon the radar-detectedchannel. Upon receiving radar-detected message from Node-B 804, Node-A802 triggers transmission of radar-detected and CSA messages 810. Then,Node-B 808 switches to an available channel designated in the CSAmessage. FIG. 9 further illustrates that Node-B 904 reverts to mastermode, and the wireless repeater network 900 is re-established in theavailable channel 906.

FIGS. 10-14 illustrate how the network is recovered and re-establishedin case of asymmetric radar detection during CAC. In FIG. 10, theelement 1000 denotes a wireless network. The elements 1004, 1008 denoteNode-A and Node-B, respectively. The element 1006 denotes detectingradar. In FIG. 11, the element 1100 denotes a wireless network. Theelements 1104, 1106 denote Node-A and Node-B, respectively. The element1108 denotes a communication path. In FIG. 12, the element 1200 denotesa wireless network. The elements 1202, 1206, and 1208 denote Node-A,Node-B, and Node-C, respectively. The elements 1204 and 1220 denotecommunication paths and the element 1210 denotes a signal. In FIG. 13,the element 1300 denotes a wireless network. The elements 1302, 1306,and 1308 denote Node-A, Node-B, and Node-C, respectively. The elements1305 and 1330 denote communication paths and the elements 1304, 1310denote signals. In FIG. 14, the element 1400 denotes a wireless network.The elements 1402, 1404, and 1406 denote Node-A, Node-B, and Node-C,respectively. The elements 1408, 1410, and 1412 denote communicationpaths, such as frequency bands, channel, or other equivalents.

FIG. 10 illustrates that the wireless network 1000 does not have anyconnection among its nodes 102, 1004, and 1006. Upon detection of radar,Node-C 1006 switches to an available channel, while Node-A 1002 andNode-B 1004 are carrying out CAC in another channel.

In FIG. 11, even after CAC is completed, the wireless network 1100 doeshave the complete connectivity among its nodes 1102, 1104, and 1106.Node-A 1102 and Node-B 1104 are operating in the same channel, thus theyare connected. 1108. However, Node-C 1106 is operating in a differentchannel.

In FIG. 12, Node-C 1208 switches to slave mode after having lostconnection with any root node. Node-C 1208 scans for a root node. Afterfinding the root-node, Node-B 1206, Node-C 1208 sends radar-detectedmessage 1210 in an effort to force Node-B 1206 to abandon theradar-detected channel. As shown in FIG. 13, after receiving theradar-detected message from Node-C (1208 in FIG. 12, 1308 in FIG. 3),Node-B 1306 triggers transmission of radar-detected and CSA messages1304 to Node-C 1308 and Node-A 1302. As illustrated in FIG. 14, afterreceiving CSA and/or radar-detected messages, all nodes 1402, 1404, and1406 switch to the same, available channel designated in the CSA, thusthe wireless network 1300 re-establishes its connections 1408, 1410, and1412.

FIG. 15 shows a flow chart 1500 of an exemplary process where thewireless device performs according to aspects of the disclosure.Initially, the wireless device is monitoring radars while it isoperating in master mode 1502. If it detects radar within its operatingfrequency channel 1504 and it is not a root node, it may switch to slavemode 1506. Otherwise, it will continue to monitor any radar 1502. Afterswitching to slave mode 1506, the wireless device scans frequencychannels and tries to find any peer device, which is preferably a rootnode or a node connecting to the root node 1508. After finding the peerdevice and establishing a connection with the peer device, the wirelessdevice sends a radar-detected message to the peer device 1510. Then, thepeer device sends a channel-switch announcement (CSA) message to thewireless device 1512. After receiving the CSA message from the peerdevice, the wireless device gets to know which channel is radar-free.Accordingly, the wireless device switches the radar-free channel noticedby the peer device 1514. Because the wireless device and the peer deviceare operating in the same frequency channel after the switching, thecommunication connection between the two devices may be reestablished1516. Otherwise, the wireless device has to monitor radar again 1502.After the connection is successfully reestablished, the wireless devicemay switch back to master mode 1518.

If the nodes in the multi-node network have connections other than theirwireless links, which may be on DFS channels, then nodes can utilizethose connections for transmission of radar-detected messages and CSA(or ECSA) messages. For example, if two nodes are connected viaEthernet, then a node that detects radar in a certain channel, caninform the other node about the detected radar via the Ethernet link.Thus, if the other node resides in the same channel, it can abandon theradar-detected channel. This is especially important while these nodesare carrying out CAC at the same time. Because these nodes cannotcommunicate among each other during CAC, due to regulations, when onenode detects radar, it can send a CSA message and radar-detectedmessages over the Ethernet link; thus alerting the other nodes about thepresence of radar, and forcing them to switch to an available channelbefore CAC is completed, and re-establishing the network in theradar-free available channel.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method performed by wireless device, the methodcomprising: monitoring for radar within a first frequency channel by thewireless device operating in a dynamic frequency selection (DFS) mastermode, wherein the DFS master mode enables DFS functionality of RadarInterference Detection (RID) and transmission control of any wirelessdevice operating in a DFS slave mode, wherein the DFS slave modedisables DFS functionality; switching to operating in the DFS slave modeupon detecting radar as a result of the monitoring and switching to aradar free frequency channel; scanning for a peer device; detecting thepeer device in the first frequency channel based on the scanning;connecting to the peer device over the first frequency channel; sendinga radar-detected message to the peer device, wherein the radar-detectedmessage indicates that radar has been detected in the first frequencychannel based on the monitoring, wherein the peer device is in a DFSmaster mode; receiving a channel-switch announcement message from thepeer device, wherein the channel-switch announcement message indicates asecond frequency channel that is radar-free; switching the wirelessdevice from the first frequency channel to the second frequency channelbased on the received channel-switch announcement message; andreconnecting to the peer device over the second frequency channel. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the peer device is a root node or a nodeconnected to the root node.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thewireless device is an access point (AP) or a universal repeating (UR).4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending a channel-switchannouncement message immediately after detecting radar in the firstfrequency channel from the monitoring, wherein the sent channel-switchannouncement message includes instructions for the peer device to switchfrom the first frequency channel to the radar free frequency channel. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device ceases transmissionsin the first frequency channel after detecting the radar from themonitoring.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless deviceswitches from DFS slave mode to DFS master mode after the reconnectingto the peer device over the second frequency channel.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the wireless device is configured to operate in a meshnetwork.
 8. A wireless device, for operation within a wireless localarea network, the wireless device comprising: a radio frequency (RF)transmitter; a RF receiver; and processing circuitry operatively coupledwith the RF transmitter and the RF receiver; wherein the processingcircuitry is configured to operate in dynamic frequency selection (DFS)master mode and to monitor for radar within a first frequency channel,wherein DFS master mode enables DFS functionality of Radar InterferenceDetection (RID) and transmission control of any wireless deviceoperating in DFS slave mode, wherein DFS slave mode disables DFSfunctionality; wherein the processing circuitry is further configured toswitch from DFS master mode to DFS slave mode, switch to a radar freefrequency channel, and to scan for a peer device based on detectingradar as a result of the monitoring, wherein the peer device is in a DFSmaster mode; wherein, as a result of the scanning, the processingcircuitry is further configured to detect the peer device in the firstfrequency channel and connect to the peer device over the firstfrequency channel; wherein the RF transmitter is configured to send tothe peer device a radar-detected message which indicates that radar hasbeen detected in the first frequency channel; wherein the RF receiver isconfigured to receive from the peer device a channel-switch announcementmessage which indicates a second frequency channel that is radar-free;wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to switch thewireless device from the first frequency channel to the second frequencychannel based on the received change-switch announcement message; andwherein the processing circuitry is further configured to reconnect tothe peer device over the second frequency channel.
 9. The wirelessdevice of claim 8, wherein the peer device is a root node or a nodeconnected to the root node.
 10. The wireless device of claim 8, whereinthe wireless device is an access point (AP) or a universal repeating(UR).
 11. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the RF transmitter isfurther configured to send a channel-switch announcement messageimmediately after detecting radar in the first frequency channel fromthe monitoring, wherein the sent channel-switch announcement messageincludes instructions for the peer device to switch from the firstfrequency channel to the radar free frequency channel.
 12. The wirelessdevice of claim 8, wherein the wireless device ceases transmissions inthe first frequency channel after detecting the radar from themonitoring.
 13. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the wirelessdevice switches from DFS slave mode to DFS master mode afterreconnecting to the peer device over the second frequency channel. 14.The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the wireless device isconfigured to operate in a mesh network.
 15. A wireless network system,comprising: a first node comprising a first RF transmitter and a firstprocessing circuitry, wherein: the first RF transmitter and the firstprocessing circuitry are operatively coupled to each other, the firstprocessing circuitry is configured to switch the first node's operationfrom a dynamic frequency selection (DFS) master mode to a DFS slavemode, wherein the DFS master mode enables DFS functionality of RadarInterference Detection (RID) and transmission control of any wirelessdevice operating in a DFS slave mode, wherein the DFS slave modedisables DFS functionality, the first processing circuitry is configuredto switch to a radar free frequency channel, to identify and connect toa second node in a first frequency channel by scanning all frequencychannels, and to generate a first radar-detected message, and the firstRF transmitter is configured to send the first radar-detected message tothe second node, and the first radar-detected message indicates that thefirst frequency channel where radar is detected by the first node,wherein the second node is in a DFS master mode; and the second nodecomprising a second RF receiver and a second processing circuitry,wherein: the second RF receiver and the second processing circuitry areoperatively coupled to each other, the second RF receiver is configuredto receive the first radar-detected message, and the second processingcircuitry is configured to abandon the first frequency channel indicatedin the radar-detected message.
 16. The wireless network system of claim15, wherein the second node further comprises a second RF transmitterthat is operatively coupled with the second RF receiver and the secondprocessing circuitry, wherein: the second processing circuitry isconfigured to generate at least a channel-switch announcement message,and the second RF transmitter is configured to transmit thechannel-switch announcement message to the first node.
 17. The wirelessnetwork system of claim 16, wherein the first node switches to the DFSmaster mode after receiving the channel-switch announcement message. 18.The wireless network system of claim 15, wherein the wireless networksystem is a mesh network.
 19. The wireless network system of claim 15,wherein at least one of the first node and the second node is an accesspoint (AP) or a universal repeating (UR).
 20. The wireless networksystem of claim 15, the first node further configured to send achannel-switch announcement message immediately after detecting radar inthe first frequency channel, wherein the sent channel-switchannouncement message includes instructions for the second node to switchfrom the first frequency channel to the radar free frequency channel.